Protopic
Protopic is tacrolimus ointment for eczema, offered in 0.03% and 0.1% tubes in packs of one to five. A thin layer is rubbed into the affected skin twice a day.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tube |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.03% | 1 tube | $24.64 | $24.64 |
| 0.03% | 2 tubes | $46.76 | $23.38 |
| 0.03% | 3 tubes | $66.30 | $22.10 |
| 0.03% | 4 tubes | $77.36 | $19.34 |
| 0.03% | 5 tubes | $75.65 | $15.13 |
| 0.1% | 1 tube | $39.09 | $39.09 |
| 0.1% | 2 tubes | $73.94 | $36.97 |
| 0.1% | 3 tubes | $105.39 | $35.13 |
| 0.1% | 4 tubes | $132.60 | $33.15 |
| 0.1% | 5 tubes | $155.55 | $31.11 |
- Category
- Autoimmune Support · Skin Care
- Active ingredient
- Tacrolimus
- Route
- Topical
- Form
- Ointment
- Strengths
- 0.03/0.1%
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Eczema
- Therapeutic Class
- Immunomodulator
- Pharmacological Class
- Calcineurin inhibitor
- Minor Side Effects
- Burning, Itching
- Moderate Side Effects
- Redness, Skin warmth
- Dosage Forms
- Ointment
- Administration Route
- Topical
- Originator
- Astellas Pharma
- Onset Time
- Days to weeks
- Duration
- Continuous use
- Storage Instructions
- Keep at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- None known with topical application
- Age Restrictions
- Consult doctor for paediatric use.
What you will receive
Protopic is the originator brand name, made by Astellas Pharma. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Protopic.
- The same active ingredient (Tacrolimus) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What Protopic strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Protopic comes as 0.03% or 0.1% tacrolimus in tubes, in packs of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 tubes. The pack contains generic tacrolimus, not the original Protopic. Larger packs cost less per tube.
How is Protopic sent to Hong Kong?
Protopic tubes are sent in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. Orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if not yet dispatched. Support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese by live chat.
Does Protopic have other names?
Protopic, Advagraf and Prograf are brand names of tacrolimus, which is also sold as Adoport, Envarsus, Pangraf and Tacroz. Here, tacrolimus can be bought online as generic Protopic, and also as generic Prograf. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can I drink alcohol while using Protopic?
Alcohol does not stop the ointment working, but it can bring on flushing, burning or itching in treated skin, sometimes within minutes of a drink. It is most noticeable soon after applying. If it happens, shift your application to a different time of day or skip the drink; the reaction settles by itself.
How long does Protopic take to work?
The itch tends to ease first, often within the first few days, with the redness and scaling improving over one to two weeks. Patches that have been thick and long-standing take longer to settle. Using it twice a day gives the best chance of a clear result.
Can I use Protopic on my face?
Yes — the face and neck are common places to use it, and the 0.03% strength is the usual choice there. Apply it around the eyes rather than in them, and keep it off the lips and the inside of the nose. Wash your hands after each application.
What does 0.1% tacrolimus mean?
The percentage tells you how much tacrolimus the ointment carries. At 0.1%, every gram holds 1mg of tacrolimus; the 0.03% strength holds a third of that. So each application from the stronger tube delivers more medicine, which is why 0.1% is kept for adults with thicker, more stubborn patches.
Can I use moisturiser or sunscreen with Protopic?
Yes to both. Moisturiser helps eczema-prone skin, and goes on a few minutes after the ointment has sunk in, not mixed with it. Treated skin is best kept out of strong sun, and sunbeds and UV lamps are best avoided for as long as you are using the ointment.
About Protopic
Eczema that needs something gentler than a steroid
Eczema on the eyelids, around the mouth or in the folds of the neck and elbows is awkward to treat, because those are the places where steroid creams can thin the skin over time. Protopic is the ointment many people use there. It contains tacrolimus, which settles the overactive immune cells behind the itch, redness and scaling, and it contains no steroid at all. The brand is used for atopic dermatitis in adults and children, typically in courses that last until a flare has cleared.
Applying it
Use a thin layer on the affected patches and rub it in gently, twice a day. Wash your hands afterwards unless your hands are the area being treated. The skin should be dry and unbroken: cuts, grazes, cold sores and infected patches are left until they have healed, because the ointment damps down the skin's local defences. Keep it away from your eyes, mouth and the inside of your nose. Moisturiser can follow once the ointment has sunk in. Keep the tube at normal indoor temperature and never freeze it.
Which strength?
The lower strength, 0.03%, is the one used for children and for thin, easily irritated skin such as the face and neck. The 0.1% tube is for adults with thicker or more stubborn patches. Tubes are supplied as tacrolimus ointment in packs of one to five, so a long-running flare can be covered in a single order. Both strengths are the same medicine; what changes is how much tacrolimus each gram of ointment carries.
What to expect
The first few days can sting or burn a little, or itch, and that usually fades as the skin settles. Alcohol can bring the flushing back on treated patches. Headache and extra sensitivity to heat and cold are reported too. Skin that turns painful, weepy or blistered is more likely to be infected than simply eczema, and needs that dealt with before the ointment goes back on. Once the skin is clear you stop, and restart if a flare returns.
Protopic and Prograf
Prograf contains the same ingredient but is a very different product — oral capsules of 0.5mg, 1mg and 5mg taken to stop the body rejecting a transplanted organ. Protopic stays on the skin and treats eczema. The capsule listing sits on the tacrolimus page.
Sources
- Tacrolimus: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Immunosuppressants (Anti-rejection Medicines) — National Kidney Foundation